Problems with plumbing - Is there anything we can try ourselves before calling a plumber?

Question

We live in a ground floor flat with an en suite shower room and bathroom and our plumbing has suddenly developed a problem. When either of our toilets are flushed the water is coming up higher than normal in the pan. This is causing water the bubble out of the plug holes in the shower or bath depending on which toilet it is. Is there anything we can try before we call out a plumber?

Answer 1

You have a blockage in the system, lift the manhole cover outside and rod the drain, if you don't have any rods you can hire them at most hire shops. good luck.

Answer 2

It could be several things. most likely there is a blockage. If the shower etc are downline of the toilet then start by examing pipework closest to the main foul water outlet. Open the access cover and use a proper drain rod to clear it (wear gloves and goggles) It could be a collapsed or damaged section of pipework elsewhere. If it only happens when you flush water then it is quite likely to be on your run. Try and access sections of pipe by undoing the compression joints on traps and fittings.

Be wary of pouring chemicals down as some can affect rubber seals on joints. Also be careful shoving springs etc down as if you have push fit type joints in hard to access places you can set yourself up for a whole load of work.

If it turns out to be a communal external soil pipe then the other residents/property manager are partly liable for costs usually.

Answer 3

There is a clog below the level of the traps. You can try a plunger and commercial drain opening chemicals first. If those don't work, you can run a "snake" down the tub drain or the toilet drain and see if you can clear it up. If that doesn't work, call the plumber.

Answer 4

You could have a blockage in one of your vent pipes, or a partial blockage in your sewer line. Both these can be fixed by running a plumber's snake down them. This can be done by you, but it is rather messy. A professional can do the job with tools they already have and with less mess.

Answer 5

I'd try a plunger on everything first.  Do the toilets, then put a couple inches of water in the bathtub and the shower too and plunge them.  Hopefully this will take care of your problem.

Answer 6

try  checking your drains 1st, it could be you have a blocked  drain ,

do you  own the property, or are you a council tennant, if you are

council then  get intouch with them straight away and they will call

someone out on your behalf.

otherwise , leave it , you may make it worse, and call out someone,

do not touch the  Gas,  Electric,  Water  yourself , you,will end up

with the  Blame.

call the company that supplys you ,

and see what they say.

  

Answer 7

I would first try a product called RidX, a drain opener. buy 2-3 cans and Pour it down your shower drain, the sink and toilet.

Because your home is on a slab, you can also locate where the main sewer drain leaves from under the house and find what is called the "clean out plug" usually located very close to the exterior wall on the street side of the house. It will have a square nut looking thing which can be loosened with a wrench. Once that is taken off, take your garden hose and fit it with a straight line spray nozzle so it sprays a jet of water and force the hose inside the main drain pipe just as far as possible. This MAY unstop your drain and worth a try.